I don't know what to make of the Grand Ole Opry shows this weekend. What I mean is that they are good shows, but not great ones. The upcoming mid-week shows featuring Luke Combs celebrating his 5th year as an Opry member, and the Opry debut of Post Malone the following night with Brad Paisley is where the attention will be.
So, looking at the Friday Night Opry, Opry members John Conlee, Charlie McCoy and Jeannie Seely are on the schedule. Jeannie missed the Opry again last weekend and hopefully she is feeling much better. Saturday's Grand Ole Opry will also feature only three Opry members on the schedule: Connie Smith, Don Schlitz and Rhonda Vincent.
Deana Carter and Michael Ray head the list of non-members on the schedule for Friday, in addition to Cochren & Co., Amythyst Kiah, and making his Opry debut, Evan Honer.
Another Grand Ole Opry debut will be taking place on Saturday night as Jobi Riccio will be appearing. Also on the schedule is Hall of Fame member Jimmy Fortune, Everette, Katy Nichole and Wood Box Heroes.
Friday August 9
7:00: Jeannie Seely, Evan Honer, John Conlee, Cochren & Co.
Intermission
8:15: Amythyst Kiah, Michael Ray, Deana Carter, Charlie McCoy
Saturday August 10
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Rhonda Vincent, Everette, Katy Nichole, Jimmy Fortune
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith, Jobi Riccio, Opry Square Dancers, Wood Box Heroes, Don Schlitz
Evan Honer, who is making his Opry debut on Friday night, is a songwriter originally from Surprise, Arizona. Influenced by esteemed artists like Jason Isbell, Tyler Childers, and Colter Wall, he has masterfully crafted a captivating blend of modern outlaw country, indie folk, and pop sensibilities. Despite only being 22 years old, Evan has garnered an impressive 50 million+ streams across platforms and will be extensively touring as a 100% independent artist.
Jobi Riccio is from Morrison, Colorado. She grew up surrounded by music and found inspiration in artists ranging from Sheryl Crow to Joni Mitchell. She has received significant acclaim for her songwriting, including winning the 2019 NewSong Music Competition and the 2019 Lee Villiare Scholarship from her alma mater Berklee College of Music. More recently Jobi was awarded the 2023 Newport Folk Festival John Prine Fellowship, chosen as a 2024 Luck Reunion Artist On The Rise and is nominated for the Americana Music Association's 2024 Americana Honors and Awards in the category of Emerging Artist of the Year. Her debut album, Whiplash has garnered praise from The New York Times, Billboard, NPR, and The Nashville Scene to name a few.
From 50 years ago, Saturday August 10, 1974
1st show
6:30: Willis Brothers (host): Merle Kilgore
6:45: Billy Grammer (host): Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper
7:00: Jimmy C Newman (host): Jan Howard, Joe Douglas
7:30: Roy Acuff (host): Jeanne Pruett, Cal Smith, Crook Brothers, Tennessee Travelers
8:00: George Morgan (host): Connie Smith, Bobby Lewis
8:30: Ernest Tubb (host): Stu Phillips, Marion Worth, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Wayne Hammond
2nd show
9:30: Billy Grammer (host): Willis Brothers, Jeanne Pruett
10:00: Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper (host): Merle Kilgore
10:15: Ernest Tubb (host): Cal Smith, Joe Douglas
10:30: Roy Acuff (host): Jan Howard
10:45: Jimmy C Newman (host): Bobby Lewis, Crook Brothers, Tennessee Travelers, Joe Edwards
11:00: George Morgan (host): Connie Smith, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Bill Simpson, Sam McGee
11:30: Stu Phillips (host): Marion Worth, Ronnie Robbins
Joe Douglas was a Cajun/Country musician and was known as "Cajun Joe Douglas." His band was known as the American Cajun Band and in the early 1970s he was at the beginning of his career. Bill Simpson was a local singer from Madison.
August 10, 2002, was a special night at the Grand Ole Opry. During the televised portion of the show, the Dixie Chicks, who were guesting that night, introduced Opry members Porter Wagoner and Bill Carlisle and announced that they were elected as the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame. What I will always remember from that night was the expression on Porter's face. To me, it was one of those, what took it so long looks. If memory serves me correctly, neither Porter nor Bill said anything. The Medallion Ceremony took place later in the year, with Dolly Parton inducting Porter.
Here is the running order from that night 22 years ago:
1st show
6:30: Tennessee Pride
Jimmy Dickens (host): Out Behind The Barn
Jimmy C Newman: Colinda
Jim Ed Brown: The 3 Bells
Bering Strait: I Could Be Persuaded/(?)
Jimmy Dickens: Mountain Dew
7:00: Opry/Standard Candy
Brad Paisley (host): I'm Gonna Miss Her
Jamie O'Neal: There Is No Arizona/When I Think About Angels
Lee Greenwood: I Will Not Go Quietly/(?)/God Bless The USA
Brad Paisley: I Wish You'd Stay
Dixie Chicks: A Long Time Gone/White Trash Wedding
Brad Paisley: (?)
8:00: Martha White
Porter Wagoner (host): Wake Up, Jacob
Bill Carlisle: Hand Me Down My Walking Cane
Jeannie Seely: Anytime
Connie Smith: Did We Have To Come This Far To Say Goodbye
Porter Wagoner & Opry Cast: Happy Birthday Connie
Opry Square Dance Band: Snow Flake Reel
Porter Wagoner: On A Highway Headed South
8:30: Physicians Mutual
John Conlee (host): Got My Heart Set On You
George Hamilton IV: We Will Meet Again
Jean Shepard: I'll Sail My Ship Alone
Hal Ketchum: A 5 O'clock World/Stay Forever
John Conlee: Busted
2nd show
9:30: Dream Works
Jimmy Dickens (host): Sleepin' At The Foot Of The Bed
Hal Ketchum: But I Do
Charlie Walker: Who'll Buy The Wine
Dixie Chicks: A Long Time Gone/White Trash Wedding
Jimmy Dickens: Life Turned Her That Way
10:00: Lincoln Mercury/Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): Tell Her Lies & Feed Her Candy
Jan Howard: Heartaches By The Numbers
Billy Walker: Adam's Side
Brad Paisley: Wrapped Around/I'm Gonna Miss Her
10:30: Honest Abe Log Cabins/Joggin' In A Jug
Jean Shepard (host): Head Over Heels In Love
Holly Dunn: You Really Had Me Going
Lee Greenwood: Right Here/God Bless The USA
Opry Square Dance Band: Blackberry Blossom
Jean Shepard, Jeannie Seely & Jan Howard: Satin Sheets
11:00: Coca Cola
John Conlee (host): Common Man
Jack Greene: Mr. Sunshine/Statue Of A Fool
Jamie O'Neal: There Is No Arizona/When I Think About Angels
John Conlee: Rose Colored Glasses/Amazing Grace
11:30: Opry
Jeannie Seely (host): Hey, Good Lookin'
Connie Smith: Just For What I Am/Runaway Little Tears/Nobody But A Fool/Tiny Blue Transistor Radio/I Never Once Stopped Loving You/If It Ain't Love/If I Talked To Him/Ain't Had No Lovin'
Bering Strait: Going Home Feels Like Movin/(?)
Jeannie Seely: I Can't Stop Loving You
(George Hamilton was scheduled to host the 11:30 segment, however he only did the first show. Because of that, Jeannie hosted the segment and Connie Smith did a melody of her hits).
There you have it for this week. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend. Take care.
My mother, who introduced me to country music, used to say that the Hall of Fame got things backwards. One of her examples was Marty going in in 1982 and The Potato in 1983. Now, we were all glad that Marty got it when he did, but Dickens discovered him in the first place. So she felt Dickens should have been first. She felt that way when Willie Nelson went in ahead of Ray Price. Similarly, had she lived, she would have felt that Dolly going in three years before Porter was an insult, and I think to Porter it was. And I thought of when Buck Owens got it in 1996 and asked what took them so long, and then Ray was next and said Buck stole his line!
ReplyDeleteI know that there were stories that Porter didn't have that great of a relationship with some in the music industry and the voters, which may have attributed to his having to wait longer than he should have for the Hall of Fame. While I don't think Porter ever said it, others did that it was a sin that Dolly got in before him (not taking anything away from Dolly who did deserve the honor). And I also remember that there were those who were unhappy with Ray Price after he recorded "For The Good Times," and changing from his western outfits to wearing the tux, much as Eddy Arnold did years earlier.
DeleteJeannie Seely cancelled on Friday night and was replaced by Mandy Barnett. Connie Smith and Katy Nichole have cancelled for Saturday night and replaced by Charlie McCoy and Tenille Arts.
ReplyDeleteI hope everybody is feeling all right, or feeling better, as the case may be.
DeleteThis also brings up something that bugs me about the current set-up at the Opry. Charlie McCoy was available for tonight. Why wasn't he in the lineup in the first place?
Michael,
ReplyDeleteI think it's because the 'Opry is ashamed of its members.
I'm only about half kidding.